Tonight's double bill features longtime Freight favorite singer-songwriter Dan Navarro and beautifully expressive Claudia Russell with her band the Folk Unlimited Orchestra. Dan, part of folk-rock duo Lowen & Navaro, brings a gorgeous repertoire of songs of experience, documenting humanity's dignity and frailty, examining life's losses and lessons. Claudia's originals put a unique spin on the classic themes of songwriting—love, longing, and loss, with the occasional foray into silliness—in an eclectic folk style that mingles blues, western swing, country, pop, and rock influences.

A songwriting team of notable cachet, Eric Lowen & Dan Navarro wrote a string of hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s for such luminaries as Pat Benatar (the worldwide smash "We Belong"), The Bangles ("Everything I Wanted"), and Dave Edmunds ("Test of Love"). Dan's flourishing and diverse solo career includes work as a session singer and voice actor in English and Spanish, including the films "Happy Feet" and "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown", and guest appearances on albums by Neil Young, Luis Miguel, Susanna Hoffs, Jose Feliciano, Julio Iglesias, and Jon Anderson of Yes. In addition to his 9 albums with Lowen & Navarro, Dan's most recent release is the 2010 Dan Navarro with Stonehoney, Live at McCabes.

A singer who's equally at home on a whispery ballad and a full-tilt Buddy Holly-styled romp, Claudia Russell with the Folk Unlimited Orchestra (guitarist and mandolinist Bruce Kaplan, bassist Mark Petrella, and piano player Carl Byron) returns to our stage for another warm-you-up-right-down-to-your-toes evening. Named Best New Artist of 2000 by Boston's renowned folk radio station, WUMB, Claudia is a two-time finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition. The only thing better than hearing Claudia's third CD, the fabulous Live Band Tonight (recorded at the Freight), is to enjoy the real thing in person. You will feel like you've stepped into her living room, sharing music, banter, and the occasional shaggy dog story, while Bruce chimes in for comic relief.